- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows XP, Windows 2000
- Date added: November 27, 2005
- Total Downloads: 3,314,678
- Downloads last week: 45,019
- See full specifications
A newer version of Paint.NET is available.
(Download doesn't provide access to previous versions of this program.)
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 848 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET Staff
If you just want to retouch images a bit, Photoshop is overkill. Check out Paint.NET, an open-source freeware editor with all the essential tools, including those for cropping, rotating, resizing, adjusting colors, and creating collages.
Paint.NET supports the most popular image formats--JPEG, PNG, GIF, TIFF, and others--but not superhigh resolution ones like RAW. However, you'll find such basic effects as Red Eye Removal, Emboss, Mosaic, and Oil Painting, and a few higher-end features such as Clone Stamp, Lasso Select, and Magic Wand. Like a full-fledged graphics package, Paint.NET even supports layers and an actions manager. The interface is very convenient, and the panels are semitransparent, so you won't need to hide them.
Version 3 fixes many old quibbles. Multiple-image editing is done through a convenient thumbnail manager in the upper-right corner of the app; blurry tool icons have been sharpened as well. Paint.NET is far better than Microsoft Paint, and given its free price, it's a no-brainer for anyone who does a lot of minor graphical tweaking.
Watch the CNET video review of Paint.NET:
Publisher's description
From dotPDN :Paint.NET is image and photo manipulation software designed to be used on computers that run Windows 2000, XP, Vista, or Server 2003. It supports layers, unlimited undo, special effects, and a wide variety of useful and powerful tools. It started development at Washington State University as an undergraduate senior design project mentored by Microsoft, and is currently being maintained by some of the alumni that originally worked on it. Originally intended as a free replacement for the MS Paint software that comes with Windows, it has grown into a powerful yet simple tool for photo and image editing.
Version 2.5 improves performance, expands selection support to be much more useful and powerful, provides support for localization to other languages, and has an easier way for users to have the latest version (update manager). Other features added include the ability to work with measurements in inches and centimeters, a 3D Rotate/Zoom effect, Sepia adjustment, Radial Blur and Add Noise effects, GIF transparency support, TGA file format support, file format plugin support, and a refined Text tool.
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User reviews of Paint.NET 2.5
- Average user rating: 4.2 stars out of 848 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 9 user reviewsSee all 9 user reviews
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20 out of 21 people found this review helpful
Version: Paint.NET 2.5
"I've used the others, spent my money, but saved on this one"
Pros: Paint.net is freeware and open source. The advantage of open source is that many people, around the world, are permitted to work on the programming of a certain application, which means there is a vast supply of knowledge being poured into one program. I've tried the big name photo programs, like Photoshop, and they cost way too much. This one is free, and lets you do what you want in editing photos, or creating original artwork.
Cons: It is not as deep as Photoshop, and doesn't have as many filters, and editing options, but as it is open source, and constantly in the works, it won't be long before this nifty app creeps up on Photoshop, and knocks it off it's throne.
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17 out of 18 people found this review helpful
Version: Paint.NET 2.5
"Grate replacement for photoshop"
Pros: Paint.net has excellent user friendly interface also its easy to use grate for beginners who are interested at editing pictures and it's also a free software. I have used most of the picture editing including CAD software's available in internet e.g. 3ds max, cinema 4d, Photoshop, ulead photoimpact and MS PhotoDraw etc those are just few of the software that I use. If you are one of those people who are interested in graphics design or web development it's a grate software to start with. Paint.net has more tools then MS paint and far more superior in every way. My suggestion to you is download the software it's not that big in size its only takes 1 or 2 minutes to set it up and explore the tools and the effects it has with a picture. I don't think you will ever need to go to the help section because it's so easy to use.
Cons: As you may know I never give a software 5 out of 5 because nothing is perfect. One of the disadvantage of using paint.net is even though it has more tools then MS paint after you used all the tools and effect it can get boring other then that I think paint.net is one of the easiest software around and it also has a grate help section. My suggestion is to you if you are reading this DOWNLOAD AND TRY IT. I give this software 9.98 out of 10.
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10 out of 11 people found this review helpful
Version: Paint.NET 2.5
"Almost as good as Photoshop, but FREE"
Pros: Paint .NET offers almost the same functions as Photoshop and even some of them such as "stroke", color picker are even faster accessible. And what is best about this application is the fact that it is totally free!!!
Cons: I cannot open more windows within the application at the same time
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6 out of 7 people found this review helpful
Version: Paint.NET 2.5
Pros: I love it. It's easy to use and has more features then the standard windows paint program.
Cons: None.
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10 out of 10 people found this review helpful
Version: Paint.NET 2.5
"Perfect Free Alternative to Photoshop"
Pros: Ive used many image editing programs before and this is one is by far the best i've come upon, and best of all it's Free! I've always used it and everyone says that I use Photoshop, its really that good. Paint.Net has a variety of effects that you would see in other pricey programs, such as layers and you can virtually do anytype of enhancement with it. It has many effects and allows you to rotate an image in 3 dimensions. The newest version has automatic updates so you don't have to be on the look out for them anymore. If Paint.Net had those fancy Photoshop plug-ins then it will be a serious competetor to all image editing programs out there.
Cons: Well i've been using Paint.Net since the 2.0 version and each version after it had more power,effects and enhancements. the only problem I say I have with 2.5 is the Text function, It looks very poor in quality compared to the previous versions I used, its way too bold even when the bold function is inactive and it's no longer anti-aliased anymore, hopefully this problem will be fixed for version 2.6
- See all 9 user reviews Write review
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